Access Legal makes first Manchester hire

Access Legal from Shoosmiths – national law firm Shoosmiths' consumer legal services brand – has made its first Manchester hire.

Partner and personal injury specialist Debra Woolfson becomes the first non-Lender Services Group employee at the Spinningfields office.

Her appointment comes two months after Shoosmiths announced it would go full service in Manchester, just a year after opening in the city in January 2009.

Partner and head of consumer services Judith Dorkins said: "Having said we'd go full service ahead of schedule many people expected appointments in other corporate areas, ones that would naturally complement our lender services offering.

"But when someone of Debra's calibre becomes available you're almost obliged to strike while the iron's hot, and if we're able to develop our personal injury work sooner rather than later then we'll do it. The opportunity presented itself and we've grabbed it with both hands."

Woolfson, who joins from Manchester's Pannone, has been running a varied caseload of personal injury claims, including amputation, fatal and non-fatal road traffic collision cases, disease claims, and professional negligence claims with a personal injury element.

She said: "I have strong business development skills, so to be able to join Shoosmiths at this exciting time is a perfect chance for me to help grow its presence here, and in an area that will also enable it to diversify its offering more quickly."

Access Legal from Shoosmith was launched on February 1 and offers more than 100 legal services to consumers under seven headings: conveyancing; employment law; personal injury; legal disputes; medical negligence; motoring; and wills, family and wealth. It is among corporate, commercial, commercial property, employment, restructuring and insolvency, and regulatory services that Shoosmiths aims to offer from its 3 Hardman Street base.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Access Legal

Access Legal from Shoosmiths is the new consumer brand of top 30 national law firm Shoosmiths. From offices in Basingstoke, Birmingham, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Nottingham, Reading and Southampton, Access Legal from Shoosmiths offers more than 100 services to individuals and their families, whether they are buying a house, looking for a personal injury solicitor or writing a will. Services have been grouped under seven headings: conveyancing; employment law; legal disputes; medical negligence; asbestos claim; personal injury claims; and wills, family and wealth. Access Legal from Shoosmiths makes it easier for people to get specialist advice from legal professionals. Shoosmiths has more than 150 years' experience and advises household name corporate clients.